Meet the Italian Procurement Leaders Powering Excellence

The strategic function of procurement is evolving due to widespread digital transformation. In Italy’s largest firms, procurement leaders are moving beyond traditional purchasing to become central figures in technological and strategic changes.

For the financial technology sector, the effective management of supply chains is critical for integrating innovation, managing risk and ensuring sustainable growth.

This is particularly evident in Italy's leading banking and insurance groups where procurement strategy is intertwined with fintech development.

Integrating FinTech and procurement strategy

At Italy's largest banking group, Intesa Sanpaolo, procurement is an area of great importance.

The bank offers retail corporate and investment banking services and has a strong presence across Europe. Based in Milan, Stefano Pastori serves as Head of Procurement Strategy and Transformation.

His role is key in shaping how the group approaches its supply and subcontracting systems. With extensive experience from previous positions within Intesa Sanpaolo and other major companies like Alstom Transport Stefano brings a wide range of capabilities including business strategy and change management.

The Intesa Sanpaolo Group promotes, in line with the corporate strategies and objectives, shared policies and best practices in the field of purchasing for the entire Group to safeguard principles of ethical, social and environmental responsibility common to the companies belonging to the Group.

This approach could suggest that procurement transformation underpins the bank's broader strategic goals including the integration of responsible and technologically advanced financial solutions.

Procurement's role in InsurTech and sustainable finance

In the insurance sector procurement plays a key part in navigating the complexities of InsurTech and sustainable finance. Generali is one of the largest insurance and asset management groups worldwide, present in over 50 countries.

The group’s strategy is built on a "Lifetime Partner" commitment to its customers which it aims to achieve through innovative solutions and digitalised distribution.

Stefan Koller has been with Generali since 2007 and was named Chief Procurement Officer in July 2018. He leads Generali's procurement operations, which are designed to select the most reliable suppliers and those that enable it to limit the impact of business activities on the environment along the entire supply chain.

Generali Group aims at working with suppliers and external parties who share its values, committed to promoting respect of the global environment, human rights, labour rights, safety, quality and any factors which contribute to the overall welfare of society.

This focus on supplier reliability and sustainability is fundamental in the financial services industry where trust and long-term value are paramount.

Digital transformation in large-scale operations

Lessons in managing large-scale digital transformation can also be drawn from Italy’s energy sector. Eni, an Italian multinational energy company, has been focused on a major transformation across its supply chain.

Costantino Chessa, Head of Procurement at Eni, is an energy sector executive with over 25 years of experience in leading major initiatives including digital transformation and cost optimisation.

Since taking on the role in 2018 he has been leading change across Eni's global procurement operations to align with Eni's energy transition and decarbonisation objectives, while also spearheading digital innovation.

Similarly, Enel, a leading global energy company, appointed Stefano Ciurli as Head of Global Services in July 2023, overseeing Global Procurement. His career includes senior roles at Telecom Italia, where he managed procurement logistics and technology services.

His extensive experience in finance administration and control, gained before moving into procurement, could provide him with a unique perspective on integrating supply chain management with financial and strategic objectives.

The transformations at these energy giants could offer a blueprint for financial institutions undertaking their own large-scale digital and strategic changes.

Building on tradition: procurement leadership at Poste Italiane

Poste Italiane stands as a landmark institution in Italy's communications landscape since its founding in 1862.

What began as a postal service has transformed into a diversified enterprise headquartered in Rome, now encompassing logistics, financial services and telecommunications, all unified under a commitment to innovation and customer-centric growth.

The company's strength lies in its dual approach: a nationwide network that guarantees dependable postal delivery across Italy, paired with a digital-first mindset that keeps pace with market evolution.

This strategy has enabled Poste Italiane to expand well beyond mail services. Its financial division now offers banking, insurance and investment solutions, positioning the company as a significant force in Italy's financial sector.

The addition of mobile telecommunications services underscores the organisation's willingness to enter new markets while maintaining its core identity. Supporting this expansive portfolio are roughly 120,000 employees working across multiple business units.

Procurement plays a vital role in this multifaceted operation. Leaders like Claudio Colella, Head of Procurement at SDA Express Courier S.p.A., exemplify the scale of responsibility within the function.

Since 2016, Colella has served as Chief Procurement Officer with direct accountability to the CEO and stewardship of an annual budget exceeding €500 million. His purview encompasses process optimisation, organisational structure, contract management and systems architecture, critical levers for maintaining operational efficiency across the enterprise.